A free half-day CLE, followed by public reception with educational exhibit and a juried art show of works created by artists with developmental disabilities. Application will be made for 3 hours of CLE credit, including ethics and elimination of bias.
CLE Registration: 1 – 1:15 pm
CLE Session 1: Legal Foundations
1:15 – 1:45 pm
This panel will provide an overview of the history of the struggle to secure civil rights for people with disabilities, with particular attention to the role of the federal courts and the State of Minnesota in this struggle.
Panelists: Professor Elizabeth Schiltz, University of St. Thomas School of Law, and Bahram Samie, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota
Moderated by (Ret.) Magistrate Judge Becky R. Thorson, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
CLE Session 2: Seeking Justice Together – What We Have Learned
2:00 – 3:30 pm
This panel will explore the ethics, best practices, and challenges relating to class settlements and communications: Welsch and Jensen.
Panelists: Daniel Gustafson, Gustafson Gluek PLLC; Michael Fargione, McEllistrem, Fargione, Rorvig & Moe, P.A.; Shamus P. O’Meara, O’Meara, Leer, Wagner & Kohl, P.A.; and Anne Barry, University of Minnesota School of Public Health
Moderated by Honorable Donovan W. Frank, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
CLE Session 3 – The Unfinished Journey of the Legal Profession
3:45-4:45 pm
This panel will address needs and accommodations for lawyers with disabilities from law school and the bar exam and throughout public and private practice.
Panelists: Emily Eschweiler, Minnesota Board of Law Examiners; Paul Floyd, Minnesota State Bar Association, Wallen-Friedman & Floyd; Sierra Grandy, University of Minnesota Law School (2024 J.D. Candidate); Allison Quinn, Mitchell Hamline School of Law.
Moderated by Lauren Clements, Littler
Reception from 5:00 PM-7:00 PM, remarks at 5:30 PM
Including "I am": A Juried Art Show of Works Created by Artists with Developmental Disabilities
ASL interpreters provided
Free, open to the public, family-friendly
Light appetizers and beverages provided
This program is presented in conjunction with the District of Minnesota’s Public Outreach Committee, and is co-sponsored by the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the Minnesota Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Minnesota Disability Bar Association, and MSS.
Please contact Rebeccah Parks with any questions or additional requests for accommodations. 612-644-5124, rebeccah_parks@mnd.uscourts.gov